Planning Branch is an established and growing planning and tree consultancy business who pride themselves on an honest and comprehensive approach to planning, producing high quality work and achieving the best results for their clients, whatever their needs.
We are based in Penrith, and work all over Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and the North East.
As a small consultancy we have developed a wide range of specialism’s and abilities. We also have a comprehensive list of professional consultants to provide the services we cannot provide ourselves, including Architects, Ecologists, Surveyors and Highways Engineers.
Our consultants are either qualified RTPI members and have extensive experience of working in and for Local Authorities, especially within Cumbria.
Planning Branch draws on the considerable expertise of their professional staff who have worked in Local Planning Authorities in Cumbria and North East, working up to Manager of Development Control and Senior Planner Levels. Between them they have over 50 years experience working in and with Local Planning Authorities. This has resulted in excellent working relationships with the Local Authorities, and working knowledge of the local policies and interpretation.
Our aim is simple; to be honest in our advice, to be approachable, and to achieve a high standard of work with results that are in our Clients best interests. This ensures a high level of repeat business and recommendations.
We are happy to help with all aspects of planning applications and advice, including but not limited to the following:
Meet the Team
Anthea Jones BSc (Hons), MA, MRTPI, MArbA
Planning & Tree Consultant
Qualifications:
- Certificate in Management Concepts and Skills in Planning
- HND in Arboriculture
- BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Land and Farm Management
- MA in Urban and Regional Planning
- Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2004
- Professional member of the Arboricultural Association
Experience
Anthea is the founder of Planning Branch Ltd; she established the company in 2007. Prior to this she worked as a Planning Officer at the following Local Authorities: Eden District Council, Allerdale Borough Council, Wear Valley Council and Carlisle City Council.
She has also worked at the Lake District National Park Authority on a contract planning basis, therefore, she has a wide range of knowledge and skills and a good knowledge of the process that these Local Authorities use.
Anthea is also a qualified Arboriculturist (Tree Specialist) and was the Tree Officer at Allerdale Borough Council. She is also a member of the Arboriculturist Association.
She has a wide range of contacts both within the Local Authorities and the Specialists who work in the planning sector and related fields. Anthea believes in a straight forward and honest approach.
Alan Hunter
Heritage Specialist
Experience
Alan is Planning Branch’s heritage specialist.
During his career he was, for nearly 40 years, a Chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute until his retirement from the RTPI in 2020. In the late 1980s he became a member of the Association of Conservation Officers, and then a member of the Historic Institute of Building Conservation when it restructured.
After qualifying with a Diploma in Town and Country Planning from Leeds Polytechnic in 1975 Alan practiced in Development Management, Forward Planning, Conservation and Implementation teams for various local planning authorities throughout Cumbria and the North East. From 2000 until his retirement from full time employment in August 2015 he was the Regional Planner for English Heritage – North East (now Historic England) where for over 10 years he managed a team of conservation specialists handling the organisation’s statutory role in the planning process. During that time Alan was also responsible for handling Historic England’s statutory role in strategic planning and policy at a regional and local level. Throughout his employment with Historic England he also frequently contributed to its activities at a national level – seeking to improve consistency and robustness in both its policy and practice.
Since his retirement from full-time employment he has continued to undertake consultancy work on behalf of Historic England – North West and North East, providing training to others and dealing with (amongst other things) its response to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. He also works for Planning Branch as the lead Heritage Specialist. Working for a local authority in Cumbria for 14 years, and living in it for longer, has equipped him with an understanding and lifelong appreciation of the vernacular architecture of Cumbria and the Lake District in particular.
Alan’s experience and knowledge make his input into planning applications highly valuable.
Jasmine Jones
Planning Technician
Experience
Jasmine is currently a student at Ullswater Community College, however has embraced her role in the family business by carrying out administrative work for the company in her spare time. Since Matthew took over the admin roles, Jasmine has become the Planning Technician, providing planning support to the consultants.
Jasmine’s roles include processing invoices, correspondence with clients, constraints and planning history search for sites, drafting Design and Access Statements.
Jasmine is a valuable member of the team due to her outstanding work ethic and attention to detail.
Matthew Jones
Administration
Experience
Matthew is a valuable member of the team helping with admin within the company. His roles include scanning, completing time sheets and constraints checks for new cases as they are received.
- Anthea Jones
-
Anthea Jones BSc (Hons), MA, MRTPI, MArbA
Planning & Tree Consultant
Qualifications:
- Certificate in Management Concepts and Skills in Planning
- HND in Arboriculture
- BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Land and Farm Management
- MA in Urban and Regional Planning
- Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2004
- Professional member of the Arboricultural Association
Experience
Anthea is the founder of Planning Branch Ltd; she established the company in 2007. Prior to this she worked as a Planning Officer at the following Local Authorities: Eden District Council, Allerdale Borough Council, Wear Valley Council and Carlisle City Council.
She has also worked at the Lake District National Park Authority on a contract planning basis, therefore, she has a wide range of knowledge and skills and a good knowledge of the process that these Local Authorities use.
Anthea is also a qualified Arboriculturist (Tree Specialist) and was the Tree Officer at Allerdale Borough Council. She is also a member of the Arboriculturist Association.
She has a wide range of contacts both within the Local Authorities and the Specialists who work in the planning sector and related fields. Anthea believes in a straight forward and honest approach.
- Alan Hunter
-
Alan Hunter
Heritage Specialist
Experience
Alan is Planning Branch’s heritage specialist.
During his career he was, for nearly 40 years, a Chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute until his retirement from the RTPI in 2020. In the late 1980s he became a member of the Association of Conservation Officers, and then a member of the Historic Institute of Building Conservation when it restructured.
After qualifying with a Diploma in Town and Country Planning from Leeds Polytechnic in 1975 Alan practiced in Development Management, Forward Planning, Conservation and Implementation teams for various local planning authorities throughout Cumbria and the North East. From 2000 until his retirement from full time employment in August 2015 he was the Regional Planner for English Heritage – North East (now Historic England) where for over 10 years he managed a team of conservation specialists handling the organisation’s statutory role in the planning process. During that time Alan was also responsible for handling Historic England’s statutory role in strategic planning and policy at a regional and local level. Throughout his employment with Historic England he also frequently contributed to its activities at a national level – seeking to improve consistency and robustness in both its policy and practice.
Since his retirement from full-time employment he has continued to undertake consultancy work on behalf of Historic England – North West and North East, providing training to others and dealing with (amongst other things) its response to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. He also works for Planning Branch as the lead Heritage Specialist. Working for a local authority in Cumbria for 14 years, and living in it for longer, has equipped him with an understanding and lifelong appreciation of the vernacular architecture of Cumbria and the Lake District in particular.
Alan’s experience and knowledge make his input into planning applications highly valuable.
- Jasmine Jones
-
Jasmine Jones
Planning Technician
Experience
Jasmine is currently a student at Ullswater Community College, however has embraced her role in the family business by carrying out administrative work for the company in her spare time. Since Matthew took over the admin roles, Jasmine has become the Planning Technician, providing planning support to the consultants.
Jasmine’s roles include processing invoices, correspondence with clients, constraints and planning history search for sites, drafting Design and Access Statements.
Jasmine is a valuable member of the team due to her outstanding work ethic and attention to detail.
- Matthew Jones
-
Matthew Jones
Administration
Experience
Matthew is a valuable member of the team helping with admin within the company. His roles include scanning, completing time sheets and constraints checks for new cases as they are received.
Planning Branch Ltd hold the following certifications and memberships:
